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11
Copy of Leaflet.
Consumption and its Prevention.
Tuberculosis (including Consumption or Phthisis)
causes annually over 70,000 deaths in Great Britain, and
over 600 in Lambeth Parish, whilst very many more
persons are permanently maimed or injured and their
healths ruined. Most, if not all, of these deaths, and of
this ill-health, are preventable, and ought to be prevented.
The disease is due to the entrance from without of a germ
or microbe, and is acquired either directly from person to
person, or indirectly through infected food (milk and meat).
These germs or microbes thrive in damp, dark and dirty
places, under insanitary conditions, and in ill-ventilated,
stuffy, or over-crowded rooms, but are killed by sunlight, or
ordinary daylight, and fresh air. They readily take root
and grow in persons weakened or debilitated by infectious
disease or other illness, poverty, alcoholic excess, etc., or
in a low state of health, such as may be inherited, or
induced by overcrowding and other insanitary conditions;
but not in those in robust health, and living in good, clean,
sanitary surroundings.
The disease spreads chiefly through the phlegm, spit or
expectoration (in which are found vast quantities of germs)
of a consumptive person, and in a moist state this expectoration
does little or no harm in the way of infecting the air,
but in a dried condition, as dust, becomes exceedingly
dangerous, and is then a ready means by which the disease
passes from person to person. The disease is little (if
at all) catching through the breath or perspiration, so that
consumptive invalids may be closely attended upon by
healthy persons, provided care is taken about the expectoration.
Consumption is not necessarily fatal, but can often be
cured if its nature is recognised early and proper means
taken for its treatment.
SPECIAL PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
1. A consumptive person must not expectorate or spit
about the house, in cabs, omnibuses, tramcars,